Process for bleaching fabrics in open form.



F5966 9R 1. Que; I61 I CATION OF TEXTILES & I-IBtIIS, a

C. TAYLOR.

PROCESS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN FORM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-11.1914.

1,14 ,4 1 Patented Ju1 13, 1915.

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EIEACI-IING & fiVEINQ; EEEII TREATMENT (I1, CHEMICAL MODIFI CATION OF TEXTILES & FIBERS,

13 m V g c. TAYLOR.

PROCESS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN FORM. I

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 11. 1914.

1,146,461 Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- q I l m tr ()AllON OF TEXTILES & FIBERS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PROCESS FOR BLEACHING FABRICS IN OPEN FORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed November 11, 1914. Serial No. 871,612.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES TAY OR, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Process for Bleaching Fabrics in Open Form, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in theprocess for bleaching fabrics in open form, the object being to provide a process which requires less chemicals to be used in the treatment of the fabrics, and at the same time performs the bleaching operation in less time than hitherto has been the case, thus resulting in a great saving of both time and labor, and in a considerable reduction in the cost of bleaching.

Another object is to provide a process for bleaching fabrics in open form, such as cotton, silks, linens and mixtures in cottons and silks, which process requires the least number of machines of the simplest types used in the art of bleaching ;thus taking up the least amount of floor space, requiring the least amount of attention, and yet being capable of completely bleaching a much greater quantity of fabrics in far less time than can be claimed by any other type of process or plant used for the same purpose.

Another object is to provide a process for bleaching fabrics in open form, which permits and subjects the treatment of the fabric, in the first instance, to a bath of liquor containing a solution of chlorin, which saturates the fabric for dissolving the remaining vegetable and starchy matter contained in the same; then conveys the saturated fabric to a second bath of liquor containing a solution of caustic-soda which, when brought into action with the chlorin already saturated in the fabric, acts upon the rcsiduous matter already softened by the chlorin, and immediately begins to disintegrate and dissolve the same, causing it to free itself from the pores and fiber of the fabric and lie upon the surface of the same, after which it is subjected to the boiling process in the keirs of the plant, which process ultimately separates all such remaining disintegrated rcsiduous matter from the fabric.

Another object is to provide a process for bleaching fabrics in open form which will permit the handling of one or more independent pieces of fabrics at the same time,

the process permitting the handling of two or more fabrics by superimposing one over the other and thus treating them simultaneously.

Still another object is toprovide a process for bleaching fabrics in open form, which requires but a single boiling of the fabrics, wlth a much less steam pressure than is used inthe ordinary boiling processes,the same being due to the fact that the peculiar action of the chemicals, used in the separate baths to which the fabrics were subjected, when coming into contact with each other, penetrates into every particle of the fiber of the fabrics, and practically frees the same of the rcsiduous matter contained therein before reaching the keirs for boiling; thus reducing the period of time and amount of work ordinarily required by the boiling process for ultimately freeing the fabrics of such matter, and thereby requiring much less steam pressure in the keir than is used with other types of bleaching processes and plants in the case of either open or rope forms of bleaching.

Hitherto the process of bleaching fabrics consisted of the following steps: First, the fabrics were subjected to the lengthy socalled drenching or steeping process, which consisted in drenching the fabrics, usually over night, in a vat of liquor containing a solution of black soap and caustic-soda; second, upon removing the fabrics from the drenching vat, they were passed through a set of squeezing-rollers; third, after the squeezing operation, the fabrics were deposited into keirs for steam boiling, usually containing a solution of practically the same composition as was used in the drenching process; fourth, after several hours boiling in the keirs, under high steam pressure, the fabrics were passed through mangles, squeezers or rollers. The above operations would be repeated several times, especially the boiling operation, before the material would be properly bleached and ready for the washing process, usually requiring two or more repeats. Thus it may be readily un derstood at this point, that my process and plant eliminates the drenching and steeping feature, and also the necessity of requiring the fabrics to be subjected to a plurality of boiling treatments,thereby providing an easier as well as more efiective method of handling fabrics in open form, which procfrom the delivery-truck to the keir.

ess has been proven to be far superior in the art than bleachin in the rope form.

To these as wel as other ends, my improved process for bleaching fabrics in open form comprises the following combination of machines or apparatus, and sequence of operations.

Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawing, Figure l, is a diagrammatic view of my type of bleaching plant, showing some of the apparatus in section for clearly indicating the line of travel of the fabrics while being conveyed through the piiant 1g. 2, is practically the the same View as Fig. 1, but shows the vat, nearest the keir, in operation with the other two vats, showing the line of travel of the fabrics conveyed through through the plant on the return trip from the keir to the receiving-truck. Fig. 3, is a plan View of Fig. 1, showing two independent sets of fabric being handled by the plant, feeding the same from the deliverytrucks, through the several machines of the plant, into the keir for boiling. Fig. 4, is the truck-end View of Fig. 2, showing two independent sets of fabric being fed from the keir into the delivery-trucks. Fig. 5, is a front view of a vat, showing the same equipped with a set of three squeezing-rollers instead of two, as shown in the other views of the drawings, for furnishing a double squeezing operation on the material, instead of the single, as is attained by the use of but two such rollers. Fig. 6, is a view taken on line 66 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing two independent sets of fabrics entering into the vat for the first saturation.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 is a de livery truck loaded with two ends 3 and 4 of fabric, which are being fed over the rollers 5 of the traveling-stave 6 and into the vat 7, containing the bleaching liquor 8. The ends 3 and 4 are wound around the lower and upper vat-rollers 9 and 10, respectively, and after leaving the vat 7 are guided between the squeezing-rollers 11 and 12, which are of the ordinary type and which are preferably provided with the adjustingjournals 13, adjusting-studs 14, and weights 15 for permitting the required tension between the upper squeezing-roller 12 and the lower squeezing-roller 11. The fabrics 3 and 4, after passing through the squeezing-rollers l1 and 12, are guided over the winch 16 which is preferably supported by suitable means from the ceiling 17. From the winch 16, the fabrics 3 and 4 are directed into the second bleaching vat 18 which contains the bleaching liquor 19 and is equipped with the lower and upper rollers 20 and 21, re-

spectively, about which are wrapped the fabrics 3 and 4, which become saturated with the liquor 19 and then pass between the lower squeezing-roller 22 and the upper squeezing-roller 23, being also provided with adjusting means for allowing the required tension on the material, squeezed between them, the drippings of which pass back into the vat 18.

Upon leaving the squeezing-rollers 22 and 23, the fabrics 3 and 4 are directed to the winch 24, which winch leads the fabrics 3 and 4 into the keir 25 which is provided with the lid 26 which may be raised to the open position, shown in Fig. 1, or lowered to the closed position, indicated in Fig. 2. Aside of the keir 25 is the auxiliary keir 27 which is provided with a lid 28, being also adapted to be open or closed, as desired, similar to the lid 26 ofthe keir 25. The keirs 25 and 27 are preferably of the ordinary type provided with the live steam admission valves 29 which permit the steam to be admitted either at the top or at the bottom of the keir, as desired. The keirs are also provided with the ordinary type of circulating pumps 30, which keep the liquor of the keirs circulating during the boiling process,the pumps sucking the liquor through the bottom of the keirs and delivering it back into the top of the keirs.

The driving mechanism of the rotating members of the plant may be geared, belted, or otherwise suitably connected for driving the same when the plant is in operation, such rotating members being adapted to reverse and rotate in the opposite direction, when desired.

In Fig. 2, the fabrics 3 and 4 are being drawn from the auxiliary keir 27, after the boiling process has taken place therein, passing over the winches 31 and 24, and guided into the vat 32 which contains the drippings 33 from the squeezing-rollers above and is equipped with the lower and upper rollers 34 and 35, respectively.

The fabrics 3 and 4 are wrapped about the rollers 34 and 35 from which they are directed to the lower and upper squeezingrollers 36 and 37, respectively,the latter being provided with the ordinary type of tension means already described in connection with the other squeezingrollers of the plant. Upon leaving the squeezing-rollers 36 and 37, the fabrics 3 and 4 are directed into the vat 18, and pass through the liquor 19, which is now changed toa weak solution of chlorin and water as against the solution of caustic-soda and water used in Fig. 1, after which the fabrics are directed to the squeezing-rollers 22 and 23, from where they pass over the winch 16 which directs them into the vat 7 where they are conveyed over the rollers 9 and 10 in the direction of the arrows marked Z), and subjected to a second bath in the solution 8 consisting of a 9. BlEACHlNG (a mums; area TREATMENT & CHEMICAL MODIFL CANON OF TEXTILES (it FIBERS,

solution of chlorin and water in which case a greater percentage of chlorin is used than in the solution 8 in Fig. 1.

In the Figs. 3 and 6, 4 is a. piece of fabric superimposed upon the piece 3 in a similar manner to that of the layers 3 and 4 on the other side of the machine showing the plant handling four separate and in dependent ends of fabric at the same time, subjecting them each to the same process throughout.

In Fig. 4, 4 represents a layer of fabric being delivered to the receiving-truck 1 from the keir, similar to the strip of fabric 4.

Having thus described the apparatus used with my process, the method of operation and the manner in which the fabrics are treated are as follows: First, for handling and treating the fabrics from the deliverytruck to the keir, as shown in Fig. 1, the vat 7 is supplied with a bleaching liquid, of any desired level, consisting of water, which may be either hot or cold, containing chlorin; the vat 18 is supplied with the bleaching liquid 19, of any desired level, consisting of a solution of water and caustic-soda, and the keirs aresupplied with a solution of Water and caustic-soda heated to a boiling temperature. The rolling members of the plant are geared, belted, or otherwise suitably connected to rotate in the direction for feeding the fabrics from the deliverytruck to the keirs. The delivery-truck, loaded with the pieces of fabric from the looms, is positioned under the traveling stave 6 and the pieces of fabric 3 and 4 and 3 and 4 are superimposed, one over the other, for forming two independent strips to travel through the apparatus of the plant, as shown in the Figs. 1, 3 and 6. The fabrics pass along the traveling stave 6 in the direction of the arrow marked a in Fig. 1, over the rollers 5 and are guided into the bleaching liquor 8 of the vat 7 then pass around the vat rollers 9 and 10, from where they are directed to pass between the squeezingrollers 11 and 12 where a suitable pressure is applied for properly evening up the saturating solution 8 contained in the fabrics, causing the solution to become impregnated within the pores and fibers of the same, from where the fabrics pass over the Winch l6, traveling in the direction of the arrow marked a, and enter the bleaching liquor 19 in the vat 18, passing around the rollers 20 and 21 and traveling through the liquor 19 in the direction of the arrows marked a, from where the fabrics, having become saturated with the liquor 19, pass between the squeezing-rollers 22 and 23, Where suitable pressure is applied upon them for squeezing out the fatty and residuous substances already disintegrated and freed from the fibers of the fabric, by virtue of the chemical change brought on by the action of the liquor 19 contained in the second vat 18, coming into contact with the liquor 8 saturated in the fabrics, while passing through the vat 7. It may be noted here that the action of the caustic-soda 19 in the second vat 18, upon the saturated fabric coming from the vat 7 containing the solution of chlorin, negatives any possibility of tendering on the part of the chlorin, by virtue of its being neutralized by the action of the caustic solution. From the squeezing-rollers 22 and 23 of the vat 18, the fabrics move toward the winch 24, as indicated by the arrow marked a, pass over the winch 24c, and are guided into the keir 25, as shown in Fig. 1; thus handling and treating at least four independent pieces of fabric in open form at the same time and subjecting each piece of fabric to the same operation. In that manner, fabrics are fed into the keir until the same becomes filled, when the lid 26 may be closed and fastened, and steam pressure applied to the keir, by the manipulation of the steam admission valves 29. With this type of'plant, the boiling treatment in the keir is reduced to a few hours treatment which, in conjunction with subjecting thefabrics to the treatment resulting from the action of the liquors coming into play with each other as the fabrics are being conveyed through the vats 7 and 18, finally completes the bleaching process and does not require repeating, as is the case with other types of bleaching plants and processes. It may be observed that after one set of keirs has been loaded with fabrics, the same may be set to work to boil the contents therein and while thus engaged, the other set of keirs 27 may be similarly loaded with fabrics and treated in the vats 7 and 18 in the same manner as has already been described with the case of the first set of keirs 25. Second, after the fabrics, deposited in the keirs, have been subjected to the required amount of boiling, the steam is cut ofi and the fabrics are then fed out of the keirs in a similar manner to the method used in feeding them into the keirs;-one piece superimposed over the other and two or more independent sets may be handled if necessary, the same as one.

Fig. 2, shows a method of handling and treating the fabrics coming out from the kiers after the boiling treatment,the fabrics moving in the direction of the arrows marked 1). It may be observed that during this unloading period, the vat 32 is brought into action, the use of the same being eliminated during the loading period, shown in Fig. 1.

It must be here understood that all of the rotating mechanism during the unloading period must be reversed to run in the opposite direction to that which it had been running in during the loading period, shown in Fig. 1. Also, that during the unloading period, indicated in Fig. 2, that the liquor in the vat 18 is changed to a weak solution of water and chlorin instead of water and caustic-soda, as was the case in the treatment of the fabrics before reaching the boiling in the keirs, and that the vat 7 is now supplied with a liquor consisting of a stronger solution of water and chlorin than was used in the case shown in Fig. 1. So for the return trip of the fabrics from the keirs, after boiling, they may be superimposed, one over the other, if desired, and passed over the winches 31 and 24, as the case may be, from where they are directed into the vat 32, containing the drippings from the squeezing of the fabrics in the rollers above, in which the fabrics pass about the rollers 31 and 35 to the squeezing-rollers 36 and 37, where proper pressure is applied for squeezing out the liquor and the disintegrated matter contained in the fibers and pores of the fabrics. From the squeezing-rollers 36 and 37 the fabrics are led into the second vat 18, containing the weak solution of water and chlorin 19*, where the fabrics become saturated and bathed in the same while passing through it over the rollers 20 and 21. From the vat 18 the fabrics travel over the winch 16 in the direction of the arrows marked 6 and pass into the vat 7, where they are bathed and brought into contact with a stronger solution of chlorin; from where the fabrics pass between the squeezing-rollers 11 and 12, where the proper amount of pressure is applied for squeezing out the remaining disintegrated matter and liquids contained in the fibers of the same, after which the fabrics are directed to pass over the winch 16 and are then deposited into the receiving-trucks 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

It may be noted here that the reason I speak of handling two parallel sets of fabrics through the machine at the same time, is that the ordinary machines (vats, squeezing-rollers, winches, etc.) used in the ordinary types of bleaching plants, are of a width suflicient to accommodate at least two widths of fabrics of the average dimensions; thus permitting a double quantity to be handled by the plant and at the same time permitting the perfect treatment of a plurality of independent pieces of fabric, subjecting them to a process which is very effective and quick in operation,the process employing two chemical agents which, when brought into action with one another, result in rapid disintegration of the vegetable substance and the foreign matters infused in the fabrics during the sizing of the same by the weaver, the cooperation of the two chemical agents, used in the process, results in minimizing the work of the keirs, in that the boiling treatment is out down to the shortest period and may be had with a much less pressure than has heretofore been known. The combination of the chemical action due to the cooperation of the chemical agents used in the process along with a few hours of boiling in the keir, produces a more perfect open bleach than can possibly be attained with other processes and methods of handling fabrics, known to the art and which in every case requires repeating of the boiling process as well as the drenching process preliminary to the boiling whichis entirely eliminated in my plant and process. Thus it may be observed that my process requires very simple apparatus, which is inexpensive to operate and is combined to permit the handling of fabrics in open form in great quantities, requiring the least possi ble amount of labor and time, and at the same time insuring an absolutely perfect bleach.

It may be understood that while I have spoken of passing two independent pieces of fabric, one superimposed over the other, through the apparatus of the plant and treating the two simultaneously, that any reasonable number of independent pieces of fabric may be so superimposed, one over the other, and passed through the plant and treated with the process employed in the same, to equal advantage. Also, that while I have spoken of handling two independent sets of fabrics, side by side, through the apparatus, that I do not wish to be limited against operating but a single set or any number of sets in the same manner.

The speed with which the fabrics travel to or from the keirs through the plant may be regulated to furnish the best results, ordinarily they may be permitted to travel at a high rate of speed,one hundred yards Der minute being a fair average for producing best results.

lVhile the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it must be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular description set forth, both as to the particular construction of the apparatus employed and as to the particular proportions of the chemicals used in the apparatus in the process of treating fabrics, since various changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. A process of bleaching fabrics in open form, consisting in the following operations:-saturating the fabrics with a solution of water and chlorin; squeezing the fabrics; subjecting the saturated fabrics to a bath in a solution of water and causticsoda; squeezing the fabrics; boiling the fabrics in a solution of water and caustic-soda a srracerwe & avenue; tiara under steam pressure; squeezing the fabrics; bathing the fabrics in a Weak solution of Water and chlorin; squeezing the fabrics; bathing the fabrics in a stronger solution of water and chlorin; and finally subjecting the fabrics to squeezing.

2. A process of bleaching fabrics in open form, consisting in passing the fabrics through a solution of chlorin and Water for saturating the same; then through squeezers for forcing the solution to penetrate through the fibers and pores of the fabric; then through a bath containing a solution of caustic-soda and water which, as soon as the same comes into contact with the chemic already supplied in the fabric, causes rapid disintegration of all fatty, vegetable and residuous substances contained in the same and brings them to the surface of the fab ric; then through squeezers for running off the disintegrated matter from the surface of the fabric; then subjecting the fabrics to a boiling treatment in a solution of causticsoda and Water under a lovs steam pressure for three or four hours; then passing the fabrics through squeezers for running off the disintegrated surface coating of Vegetable and residuous matter freed during the boiling; then passing the fabrics through a bath containing a Weak solution of chlorin and Water for saturating the same; then through squeezers for penetrating the fibers and pores of the fabrics; then through the final bath containing a stronger solution of Water and chlorin; and finally squeezing the fabrics to run off the liquids contained in the same.

CHARLES TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

B. H. CHERTOK, R. LICHTENSTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

